NTI: Iraq is preparing to pass a controversial amendment to its marriage laws, permitting men to marry girls as young as nine years old. According to a report from The Telegraph, the proposed changes also aim to limit women’s rights, including restricting access to divorce, child custody, and inheritance. Additionally, the bill would give citizens the option to resolve family matters through either religious authorities or civil courts.
The conservative government, led by a coalition of Shiite parties, intends to pass the amendment as part of an effort to “protect young girls from immoral relations.” The second amendment to this law was passed on September 16. When first enacted in 1959, known as Law 188, the legislation was considered one of the most progressive family laws in West Asia. However, the coalition government now claims that the proposed changes align with a stricter interpretation of Islamic Sharia law and aim to protect young girls.
Despite opposition from Iraqi women’s groups, the government, which holds a parliamentary majority, is expected to pass the law.
UNICEF reports that Iraq already has a high prevalence of child marriages, with around 28% of Iraqi girls marrying before the age of 18, a figure that is anticipated to increase under the proposed amendments. Dr. Renad Mansour, a senior research fellow at Chatham House, told The Telegraph that this move represents an effort by Shiite Islamists to consolidate power and bolster their legitimacy. He noted, “This isn’t representative of all Shiite parties—only specific, powerful groups are pushing this forward.” Dr. Mansour added, “Emphasizing the religious angle is a way for them to reclaim ideological legitimacy, which has diminished in recent years.”
